Posts in the Urban Fantasy genre

They have a secret language.They trace letters on each other’s skin and can actually communicate. Have you ever tried that in real life? When I was a kid, my friends and I would try to write messages on each other’s backs and, let me tell you, it isH I or wait is it an A HAP actually make than an R H ARD.

They’re already parabatai.The Clave’s got it all wrong here that the fact they’re already bound together as parabatai is a curse. (Even though the reason why romantic love between parabatai is forbidden is still a secret at the time of this post so I really don’t know what I’m talking about.)Of course, parabatai should be together. They know they can make a serious commitment to each other, because they’ve already done it. Somebody make me a member of the Clave, already. I need some voting power. *Bangs gavel*

They already know that they would be good parents. At this point, Julian is less of an older brother and more of a father figure to his siblings. Emma already fits into Julian’s family perfectly. Bringing someone else into the mix would just be weird.

Because of quotes like these:“We are bound together, Emma, bound together—I breathe when you breathe, I bleed when you bleed, I’m yours and you’re mine, you’ve always been mine, and I have always, always belonged to you!” “You’ll fix me, because we’re parabatai. We’re forever.” “How long have you been drawing me?”He sighed. A moment later his hand came to rest in her hair. His fingers twined in the strands. “My whole life.”

Thanks for having me back on the EverAfter Romance blog! If we’ve never met, I write dark paranormal romance, and my devoted readers will tell you, I like my characters to earn their Happily Ever After.

What does that mean? One of my favorite parts of a romance is that big black moment. We’ve been building up to it the whole book. Will they or won’t they? Whatever they fear most, we’re going to face it. I yearn to see them grow into the people I know they can be. This is usually the moment in a book that can bring tears to your eyes.

My poor husband has found me sobbing in the kitchen more than once as I face having to write that scene. By the time I get there, I love my characters, and I don’t want to hurt them, but for me, it’s that huge moment when love really does cause a transformation. That’s when the happily ever after is only as delicious as that dark time is painful.

From USA Today Bestselling Author Kennedy Layne comes a thrilling hostage rescue series that will lead you down perilous paths of passion, intrigue and suspense…

Starr’s Awakening (Red Starr, The Prequel)

Catori Starr has been lost in a crippling grief since losing her husband, Red. Since learning he went MIA on a rescue mission abroad, she has existed more than lived. She’s a shell of who she used to be. Restarting Red Starr HRT is a last-ditch opportunity to overcome her pain–and keep her husband’s legacy alive. With a team of cherry-picked men, she must now decide if she’s willing to set aside a years-old grief to begin a new life filled with the potential of fated dreams…or deadly peril.

Hearths of Fire (Red Starr, Book One)

Neal Bauer tried returning home once before and he found that some things aren’t meant to be. When a local cult invades the town of Hearth and draws a family friend into their way of life, he has no choice but to try again. He hadn’t expected the dormant fires of a past love to resurface, but is it possible to rekindle their smoldering passion when it could all be taken away by a sinister faction who has other plans for their future?

This has been such a serious pick-me-up to an otherwise bleary-eyed how-much-caffeine-is-too much Hump Day. Check out this amazing Q&A with Flo Fitzpatrick, author of the amazing paranormal romance, Scarecrow’s Dream, out now!

FAVORITE MOVIES

What are your five favorite movies with romance or romantic elements?

August Rush (Jonathan Rhys Myers, Kerri Russell, Freddie Highmore)

Somewhere in Time (Christopher Reeve/Jane Seymour)

A Good Year (Russell Crowe/ Marion Cotillard)

The Lake House (Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock)

and The Princess Bride (Cary Elwes/ Robin Wright.et al!)

Describe your favorite scene from each one (you can include a Youtube clip if you want as well).

August Rush: Favorite romantic scene happens when Jonathan and Kerri meet for the first time on a rooftop overlooking the arch in Washington Square Park and he sings a few lines from “It’s a Marvelous Night for a Moondance.” (I melt during this scene.) But the scene between Jonathan and his “son” Freddie Highmore playing guitar with each other without knowing the relationship is brilliant and immediately makes me cry. 🙂

No one creates realms like New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop. Now in a thrilling new fantasy series, enter a world inhabited by the Others, unearthly entities—vampires and shape-shifters among them—who rule the Earth and whose prey are humans.

As a cassandra sangue, or blood prophet, Meg Corbyn can see the future when her skin is cut—a gift that feels more like a curse. Meg’s Controller keeps her enslaved so he can have full access to her visions. But when she escapes, the only safe place Meg can hide is at the Lakeside Courtyard—a business district operated by the Others.

Shape-shifter Simon Wolfgard is reluctant to hire the stranger who inquires about the Human Liaison job. First, he senses she’s keeping a secret, and second, she doesn’t smell like human prey. Yet a stronger instinct propels him to give Meg the job. And when he learns the truth about Meg and that she’s wanted by the government, he’ll have to decide if she’s worth the fight between humans and the Others that will surely follow.

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

She’s a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure-but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.

Two lovers will dare to risk all.

Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable-and let Tayla possess him, body and soul . . .

Lydia Kincaid’s shipping back to Boston, but she’s not happy about it. She left to get away from the firefighting community—her father was a firefighter, her brother’s a firefighter and, more importantly, her ex is a firefighter. But family is number one and her father needs her help running the pub he bought when he retired. Soon, Lydia finds it hard to resist the familiar comfort and routine, and even harder to resist her brother’s handsome friend Aidan.

Aidan Hunt is a firefighter because of the Kincaid family. He’s had the hots for Lydia for years, but if ever a woman was off-limits to him it’s her. Aside from being his mentor’s daughter, she’s his best friend’s sister. The ex-wife of a fellow firefighter. But his plan to play it cool until she leaves town again fails, and soon he and Lydia have crossed a line they can’t un-cross.

As Aidan and Lydia’s flirtation turns into something more serious, Lydia knows she should be planning her escape. Being a firefighter’s wife was the hardest thing she’s ever done and she doesn’t know if she has the strength to do it again. Aidan can’t imagine walking away from Boston Fire—even for Lydia. The job and the brotherhood are his life; but if he wants Lydia in it, he’ll have to decide who’s first in his heart.

The Happy Hour Choir by Sally Kilpatrick From debut author Sally Kilpatrick comes a hopeful tale of love and redemption in a quiet Southern town where a lost soul finds her way with the help of an unlikely circle of friends…

Life has dealt Beulah Land a tough hand to play, least of all being named after a hymn. A teenage pregnancy estranged her from her family, and a tragedy caused her to lose what little faith remained. The wayward daughter of a Baptist deacon, she spends her nights playing the piano at The Fountain, a honky-tonk located just across the road from County Line Methodist. But when she learns that a dear friend’s dying wish is for her to take over as the church’s piano player, she realizes it may be time to face the music. . .

Beulah butts heads with Luke Daniels, the new pastor at County Line, who is determined to cling to tradition even though he needs to attract more congregants to the aging church. But the choir also isn’t enthusiastic about Beulah’s contemporary take on the old songs and refuse to perform. Undaunted, Beulah assembles a ragtag group of patrons from The Fountain to form the Happy Hour Choir. And as the unexpected gig helps her let go of her painful past–and accept the love she didn’t think she deserved–she just may be able to prove to Luke that she can toe the line between sinner and saint…

First in the Jane Yellowrock series from the author of the rogue mage novels

Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind-a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and hunts vampires for a living. But now she’s been hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katie’s Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who’s killing other vamps…

New York Times bestselling author Lilith Saintcrow returns to dark fantasy with a new series where the faery world inhabits diners, dive bars and trailer parks.

Jeremiah Gallow is just another construction worker, and that’s the way he likes it. He’s left his past behind, but some things cannot be erased. Like the tattoos on his arms that transform into a weapon, or that he was once closer to the Queen of Summer than any half-human should be. Now the half-sidhe all in Summer once feared is dragged back into the world of enchantment, danger, and fickle fae – by a woman who looks uncannily like his dead wife. Her name is Robin, and her secrets are more than enough to get them both killed. A plague has come, the fullborn-fae are dying, and the dark answer to Summer’s Court is breaking loose.

From New York Times and USA Today-bestselling author Carolyn Brown comes a contemporary Western romance filled to the brim with sexy cowboys, gutsy heroines, and genuine down-home Texas twang.

‘Tis the season for…

• A pistol-totin’ woman who’s no angel
• A tough cowboy who doesn’t believe in miracles
• Love that warms the coldest nights

After a year in Kuwait, Lucas Allen can’t wait to get back to his ranch for Christmas and meet his gorgeous Internet pal in person. When he pulls in, there’s Natalie Clark right in his front yard with a pink pistol in her hand and a dead coyote at her feet.

Lucas is unfazed. But wait…is that a BABY in her arms?

Fans of Linda Lael Miller and Diana Palmer will thrill to this charming story of a Texas cowboy military veteran, the woman of his dreams…and the secret baby that binds them together.

Today author Lucienne Diver is letting the main character from her Latter-Day Olympians, Tori Karacis, take the floor and share her top ten costumes for Halloween! The fifth book in the Latter-Day Olympians series, Blood Hunt, hits shelves and e-readers tomorrow! We hope you enjoy and pick up your copy of Blood Hunt today!

If you’ve read the Latter-Day Olympians series, you may expect that my suggestions will be mythologically based. If you haven’t read the series yet, what’s stopping you? Myth, mayhem, a touch of murder. Gorgeous gods, crazy cases…and bonus: you can get in on the action without having to ice up afterward. You can start with Trickster Blood, the free prequel story, or the first novel in the series, Bad Blood, which is only $0.99 through October 31st. Or…well, you can see the rest of the series below.

For now, here are my Top Ten Costume Picks for Halloween:

Go Gorgon – Medusa is the most famous of course. With her striking serpentine locks, you’re sure to be the life…or death…of any party. Be sure to use real snakes for best effect.

The Five Past Midnight anthology from Samhain Publishing releases next week! Today we have Cassi Carver sharing an exclusive excerpt from her book, Slayer’s Kiss. We hope you enjoy and pre-order your copy of the anthology today!

When the past flies in your face, clip its wings.

Kara Reed is a supernatural failure. But where her magic falls short, her fists get the job done. The criminal element doesn’t stand a chance once she hits San Diego’s dark streets.

When two smoking-hot tenants move in next door, she thinks her love life might finally be heating up. Just being near Gavin and Julian is enough to make her want to offer her body on a platter.

Gavin and Julian know it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. They’re fallen angels sent to watch over the king’s daughter, one of the last females of her kind. Trouble is, she doesn’t seem to think she needs watching—unless they’re watching her shimmy out of her clothes.

No matter how tempting her guardians, Kara’s not about to let anything stop her from tracking down a sadistic killer who carves into his victims and leaves them for dead. Even when she realizes her target may be the very scourge of heaven from which her angels swore to protect her…

Product Warnings
Contains a kick-ass heroine with a foul mouth, a kind heart and a raging libido, and two fallen angel warriors who wouldn’t have her any other way. Watch out for sex in the clouds, a magical island of hedonism and a love triangle that gives new meaning to the term “hot-wings”.

She kept her gaze trained on the door, even while mixing two martinis and a rum and Coke, otherwise she never would have glimpsed Gavin Cross appear on the other side of the glass, head bowed, talking through something serious with a striking man with shiny black hair and a body almost as massive as Gavin’s.

After a quick handshake, just a fleeting grasp of one wrist to another, Gavin broke away from the other man and came through the door. His gaze arrowed through the crush of bodies and landed squarely on Kara.

Her mouth went dry. Tha-thump. Tha-thump. Her heart throttled from zero to sixty in one glance, hammering as if she’d run a hundred miles through the desert.

Thanks so much for having me here at EverAfter Romance! I’m so excited to introduce you to Illusion, the third and final book in my Hoodoo Apprentice trilogy, which is out now, and to share a little insight on the music that inspired this book and the others in the series, Conjure and Allure.

Things aren’t always as they appear…

New school. Cross-country move. Broken heart. If only these were Emma Guthrie’s worst problems. Instead, she must battle a trio of enemies–human and spectral–who may or may not have joined forces against her and everyone she loves. All while pretending to be over Cooper Beaumont, her ex-boyfriend and true love, to shield him from her arch-nemesis’s revenge.

Worse, when the fight escalates, Emma is tempted to use black magic, which will endanger her soul. As her enemies close in, join forces, and fight with new and dark magic she’s never seen before, Emma must harness the power within her to fulfill an ancient prophecy, defeat a centuries-old evil, save her family, and reclaim the only boy she’s ever loved.

1. How do you make your playlists for your books?

I start with the book’s theme or what I have planned for the characters’ emotional arc and then try to match the tone of the music to what I expect the book will be about. So if there’s going to be a lot of sad or scary stuff happening I’m not going to pick a fun, up beat song. Instead, chances are I’ll find a tune that makes me want to curl into a ball and rock in a corner under a ton of blankets. In Conjure, the series’ first book, Emma had a massive and unrequited crush on her best friend, Cooper Beaumont. She loves every single thing about him and nearly falls to piece whenever he looks her way. To me, that feeling was captured by Colbie Caillat’s Bubby.